Latest KFF Health News Stories
CDC Adds To Mask Muddle, Saying ‘No Plans’ To Change Rules For Schools
Despite increasing pressure on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to “revisit” guidance on mask wearing in schools, including from pediatric groups, the CDC says it currently will not do so. Mask wearing issues on airplanes and in California, Las Vegas and Massachusetts are also reported.
Pandemic May Have Created Over A Million New Orphans
The figure comes from a global model built by researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital, with “orphaned” meaning losing at least one parent. Separately, a study says 120,000 U.S. kids have lost a primary caregiver to the pandemic. Rising covid and long covid in children are also in the news.
Delta Dominates US Covid Cases: Just 17% Are Other Variants
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said the country was experiencing a “dramatic increase” in cases traced to the delta covid variant — up to 83% of new cases, a rise from 50% just two weeks ago.
In 2020, US Life Expectancy Fell The Most Since World War II
Estimates place nearly 75% of the blame for the 1.5-year life expectancy slip (to 77.3 years) on covid — but those are the overall data: 90 percent of the drop in life expectancy among Hispanic Americans came from covid. Overdose deaths also played a role in the decline.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Cybersecurity Hacks Are A Health Care Risk; Pandemic Denialism Is Nothing New
Editorial writers explore health care threats, pandemic history and weight gain.
Opinion writers explore these covid and vaccine issues.
Canada Sets Aug. 9 Date To Open Borders For Fully Vaccinated Americans
The rest of the (vaccinated) world will be allowed across Canada’s borders starting Sept. 7. Also in the news, the White House will send 3 million Moderna vaccine doses to Guatemala; a WHO scientist worries we’re moving further away from the pandemic’s end; and more.
Olympic Covid Surge Grows As More Athletes And Staff Test Positive
About 70 people accredited for the Games have been identified with the virus — including a U.S. gymnast and a basketball player — but organizers say the competitions will go forward.
US Officials Advise All Americans Against Traveling To Britain
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State Department, citing the surge in covid cases in the United Kingdom, raised their travel advisories to “level 4,” the highest warning the federal government has made on trips to Britain.
In Divisive Move, Louisiana Lawmakers Seek To Override Transgender Bill Veto
Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards refused to sign the bill that bans transgender youth from participating in sports, so the legislature will meet in special session today. In Texas, the governor says he has a way to advance legislation denying teens gender-affirming care.
Wildfire Smoke May Raise Chances Of Catching Covid
A study from the Desert Research Institute in Nevada found that covid infection rates rose during the 2020 wildfire season as smoke from other state fires reached Nevada. Ongoing wildfire risks, salmonella, lead exposure, dental care lapses and more are also in the news.
Even When In The Same Hospital, Black Patients Fare Worse Than Whites
A new analysis from the nonprofit Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation finds Black patients are more likely to suffer illnesses or injuries tied to surgical procedures than white patients of the same gender and age group. Another report looks at how hospitals are working to help people injured by gun violence.
FDA Approves Another Pricey Drug For Immune Condition GVHD
Kadmon is pricing Rezurock at $15,500 per month, which is comparable to other currently approved treatments for chronic graft-versus-host disease, CEO Harlan Waksal said. Other pharmaceutical industry news is on Cytokinetics, Leadiant and California Democratic U.S. Rep. Scott Peters.
Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Plan Slammed By Justice Department
There are “fundamental concerns” about Purdue Pharma’s potentially unconstitutional opioid epidemic settlement plans in the Justice Department, with U.S. Trustee William Harrington even labelling the Sackler family liability releases from future lawsuits as “impermissible.”
Infrastructure Vote Set For Wednesday; Republicans Fight It All The Way
After a month of work, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer set a vote for Wednesday to begin debate on the bipartisan infrastructure bill. News outlets note Republican adversaries will oppose progress on the legislation. Its fate is likely intertwined with a $3.5 trillion spending bill being promoted by Democrats that includes many provisions for health care.
White House Wants Higher Penalties For Hospitals Dodging Price Disclosure
In a proposed rule, the Biden administration is asking for sharply higher penalties for larger hospitals that don’t make their pricing clear to the public. The government demands price transparency on at least 300 “shoppable” services, but a study says less than 6% of hospitals comply.
All Kids Older Than 2 Should Mask-Up At School, Pediatrics Group Advises
The advice is from the American Academy of Pediatrics and applies regardless of vaccination status. The group also advocates in-person learning and strict following of CDC guidelines. Separately, news outlets across the country cover new masking rules and debate on the matter.
Prisoners Temporarily Freed By Covid Emergency Must Return To Jail
The White House legal team has indicated that thousands of federal prisoners released to home confinement during the pandemic must return to jail within a month of the official state of emergency ending. But criminal justice advocates are pressing President Joe Biden for clemency.
Florida Covid Surge Breaks Case Record At Jacksonville Hospital
At the start of Sunday, UF Health in Jacksonville had 86 cases. At one point Monday, the number was 126, an increase of more than 40% in just one day. News outlets around the country cover local covid spikes, with lack of vaccinations and the delta variant blamed.
